Though it has been described by many as solely a trend which teenagers have joined, alternative subcultures have always been a place of found family for multiple. Just scrolling through Tiktok alone you might come across reels of goths dancing traditionally in their swirling antique corsets, emos showcasing the underground bands that they have listened to and scene kids showing as to how to add in stripes in their hair.

While some may protest that these posts alone are solely harmless and have zero to no impact on real life, older generations within the community state that these newcomers are unconsciously commercializing these said subcultures and that this is harmful if they are going to preserve what they already have. 

By definition, an alternative subculture, or more so described as “alt” is a genre outside of the mainstream which is mainly defined by music but smaller implements can consist of ideas such as fashion and progressive ideologies. This is why many alternative subcultures who have long been in the scene have based their advocacy in increments of pro-marginalized groups and supporting local underground artists, rejecting capitalism. It is for this reason that, since emo is a music-based subculture for instance, people within the subculture do not view an individual only wearing black as actually a member (O’Kane, 2024).

Because older generations are witnessing the rise of social media firsthand, and many of the newer people closing in on these subcultures are gen-z, there has been tension and heated debate on whether they are watering down said subcultures. One commentator who has based her youtube channel on gothic lifestyle in the 90’s, states that goths deserve their own space away from the mainstream and “they have tried to keep their peace enough” (Angela Benedict, 2024).

“Wednesday is a threat to goth.” She states, referencing the 2022 Addams Family adaptation. “Our subculture is not a tiktok trend. It’s not a method for fetish fuel. I loved the film, yet it was evidently clear that there was no clear research done on the subject at hand (Angela Benedict, 2024).

Delving into the show aspect itself, there is a telling sign that goth itself played little to no role in the plot points at all of the mainstream shows. The mystery show portrays the Addams family does not show them as goths, but rather as to how a goth should behave. Wednesday is shown as an emotionless caricature whose contribution to the subculture is merely a black uniform. The one time it does is the notable scene where she dances in the ballroom as she dances to the song ‘Goo Goo Muck’ by the Cramps, a rock band closely associated with the goth aesthetic, though not a goth song itself. Even then, the Tiktok trend that followed with the same dance used an audio which was largely different from the original in comparison, it being Lady Gaga’s ‘Bloody Mary’, which follows more of a pop song vibe than that of the low melancholy bass sounds that define goth music.

Other folks who were already within the alternative subculture feel isolated because of the subculture suddenly rising up to become a trend because of mainstream media. An anonymous reddit user from the scene community is anguished on the topic. 

“I used to dress up scene but had to stop because of the harassment that I have gotten from my peers. Now, being scene is suddenly ‘cool’ and the same people who have bullied me are getting into the subculture stating how they have always been scene.”

Online concerns from older members and those who have found said subcultures as a haven for being othered state that their spaces have been heavily invaded. They feel as if their interests are being treated as another trend and newcomers are valuing little to none of their core values-complaints have been received of the racism some of those in the alternative community have, not bothering to research more in the indie music movement and poorly done ideologies in the belief that being an alternative only involves dressing up as one and calling it a day (Angela Benedict, 2024).

While not unclear that social media is for a fact, ‘ruining’ alternative subcultures, there are some people who have hope. Anonymous reddit posters have faith that there are actually people who treat the alternative community with respect and people who wish to genuinely get in the scene. 

“Who knows? Maybe dressing up as Wednesday can help people figure out their own style.” One types in.

Perhaps alternative subcultures aren’t as dead as others thought they were.